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5 SECRETS FOR HEALTHY & FIT TRAVELS!

Trying to follow a healthy lifestyle and remain fit while traveling was one of the biggest challenges I had to face over the course of my professional life. Making healthy eating choices is tricky when being constantly on-the-go; airport snacks and hotel buffets are part of my everyday routine, as is exploring the different culinary options each destination offers and it's easy to forget my healthy eating habits and exercising plan.

I love taking care of my body and following a healthy nutritional plan - that's why hitting pause as soon as I leave home and check-in to another city of the world, is just not an option for me.

FIT TO TRAVEL; that's the keyword to my lifestyle and today, I'm sharing a few of my tips for healthy & fit travels!

#1. EATING BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
Whether breakfast is included to my hotel room price, or if it's part of my diet at that certain period or not, it's generally acceptable that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the healthiest choice you can have in your day while traveling. Breakfast helps me kick-start my day with a plethora of healthy options, fruits and fresh juices, οmelettes or a cold smoothie - instead of all kinds of bread, pies, croissants and anything a streetfood breakfast version offers (PARIS EXCLUDED!).

During the day I drink lots of tea instead of coffee - I generally avoid drinking coffee even when I'm back in base.

#2. EXERCISING AT THE HOTEL
That's my BIGGEST secret for remaining fit and healthy while away from home. I exercise a lot when I'm in my base and when i leave, I feel I'm losing track of my everyday habits. In order to never skip a single training, I visit the hotel's fitness area at least 3 times a week during my trips.

You may wonder if I actually choose working out instead of fully enjoying a trip from dusk till dawn - Actually yes, I ALWAYS choose fitness and working out at the hotel's gym, usually early in the morning, before hitting the road to explore the city!
Certain hotels feature tennis courts or indoor swimming pools and that broadens my fitness choices. Like my hotel at Johanesburg did, assisting me in following my strict fitness program during the two weeks I spent there!

This is another smart, alternative fitness choice which combines both working out and exploring a new destination. Α pair of great running shoes is mandatory to enjoy a great run around the city. Before starting, I plan my route including any necessary stops in order to find the right tempo and get the most out of every run!

What I also love is walking around parks -like this incredible park I visited a while back when in Boston. Skip the taxi and subway rides and walk around the city - you'll feel the joy of getting the most out of your trip while feeling healthy and energized. One of my favorite routes and possibly the best trip I'ver ever made, is the walk betweenVENICE BEACH - SANTA MONICA, a magnificent route in Los Angeles - I always choose this route for my run every time I'm in LA!

RUN IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

#4. FOLLOWING A HEALTHY NUTRITIONAL PLAN
It is a huge challenge to do so, I know. When I'm at home, I can easily monitor my meals by making healthy choices, cooking my daily meals, preparing my smoothies and fresh juices and having full control of my everyday nutrition. This changes while traveling, as my everyday routine changes dramatically. What I do in order to regain control, is keeping a strict meal schedule: I usually eat at about the same hours while avoiding anything with gluten, sugar or dairy like I would back home.

I find healthy meal options based in my preferences almost everywhere I go. Even when I'm at the hotel, I will order gluten-free pasta - it's 2018 and gluten-free is, well,the norm for any restaurant all around the world!

ROOM SERVICE, JOHANNESBURG / Gluten Free Penne with Mushrooms

#5. AVOIDING ON-BOARD SNACKS
Being a flight attendant means I've learned "listening" to my body while I'm flying at 40.000 feet is crucial for my well-being. What I usually need is lots of water and just a small snack The dry atmosphere in the cabin and the feeling of bloating from the change in air pressure are my enemies up in the air. I cut down on my salt and sugar intake, meaning that i will rarely eat the airplane meals.

My secret is eating before flying usually at the airport lounge (no need to mention how important gathering bonus points is, right?) or even at home, before the trip. I ALWAYS have bars and nuts with me and I always avoid (but I do crave sometimes, I admit) the airport candy and chocolates.